Ironing table



Feb. 26, 1929.

W. H. BARRIE" IRONING TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Feb. 26, 1925 M ATTORNEY Feb. 26, 1929.

W. H. BARRIE IRONING TABLE Origiuhl Filed Feb. 26, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvzmon ATTORNlY Patented Feb. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE. 1

WILLIAM H. BARBIE, or wALLA WALLA, WASHINGTON.

IRONING TABLE.

Refiled for abandoned application Serial No. 11,626, filed February 26, 1925. This application filed July 3, 1926. Serial No. 120,443.

This invention reiates to ironing tables, of the closable type, and has as one of its objects to provide an ironing table that will close in a space equalling the width of a studding so that it may be incorporated in the building of houses,'or that may be contained in a cabinet attachable to a wall, with a minimum of projection therefrom, and yet provide space for a sleeve board without interfering with the action of the ironing table. 1

Another object of the invention is to provide a closable ironing table that is simple yet positive in operation, and that may be opened or closed, or adjusted as to height, with a minmum of effort. p

A further object of the invention is to provide an ironin table that is relatively cheap to construct and thathas a maximum of rigid ity when. open.

WVith these and other objects of the invention in view reference is now had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the device showing an ironing table and sleeve board in the open position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 showing the sleeve board closed and the ironing table partly closed; I

Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 1 showing the ironing table closed; I

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the device showing the ironing table in the closed position- Fig. 5 is an enlarged View of a fragment of the device showing the slots, notches and movable parts therein; and

Fig. 6 is a similar View to Fig. 5 showing the movable parts in a slightly changed position.

Having reference to the drawings like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and the numeral 1 refers to a cabinet comprising a slotted frame 2, a top piece 3, a shelf 4, a cross piece 5, and a back 6.

The top piece closes the upper part of the frame and the shelf 4 may be utilized to support an iron or other object, and also as a spreader for the frame.

The shelf 4 may carry a spring catch 7 or the catch may be attached tothe back 6, as is the spring catch 8, the purpose of both of which catches will be explained subsequently.

The cross piece 5 braces the lower end of the frame.

The back 6 is preferably made of thin mavteri'al such as fiber board or veneer to save positioned centrally of the frame and in the lower half thereof, as shown.

Operably mounted 111 this slot isa free moving unlt, forming a trlangle when open,

consisting of a closable ironing table 10 com-' prising a board 11 forming one side of the triangle, a cleat 12 rigidly attached to its under side, and attached to this cleat by hinges 12 (and thus to the board) is a brace member 13, forming the second side of the triangle, and comprising preferably a pair of legs 14 strengthened by means of the members 15, and rigidly attached to the inner end of both the board and the brace member are cross members 16 and 17 respectively, each of which cross members being provided on their ends with trunnions 18 that in turn are slidably mounted in the slots 9.

The board and brace members are made of a certain thickness for economy, and the cross members 16 and 17 are of greater thickness to provide for trunnions of ample that the cross member will form a shoulder 19 to prevent any side play of the board or brace member.

By this means the slot 9 may be of ample width to receive a trunnion of a diameter equal to the thickness of the board 11 and yet by the eccentric position of the trunnion will form a shoulder to prevent the board from entering the slot to become caught or jammed therein.

The slots are cut in a manner to form a plurality of sets of oppositely disposed adjusting notches 20 communicating with the slots, and in this case a group of three notches are shown whcrewith three adjustmentsmay be obtained. A set of notches comprises any notch of the upper group with the corresponding notch of the lower group, and the notches are oppositely disposed as the upper group is on the forward side to receive the trunnions of the board, while the lower group is on the rearward side of the slot to receive the trunnions of the brace member.

The upper group is designed to fixedly receive the trunnions of the board while the lower group will receive the trunnions of the brace member, and both in a manner to provide for a direct pull or push caused by the weight of the board when open.

Each set of notches is arranged the same distance apart and to provide for easy adjustment of the board therein the brace member 13 is entirely supported from the board 11 by means of a chain 21 or other similar flexible and folding means (which supports the free end of the brace), and said hinge 12*, the chain being adjusted to maintain the free end thereof at a distance corresponding to the distance apart of the notches of the respective sets and forming with the ironing table and the brace member the completed triangle referred to.

It now apparent that by positioning the board in the notch at the height desired that the trunnions of the brace member will automatically enter their respective notches, and upon releasing the board that it will at once become fixed and stable.

Where a sleeve board 22 is included a brace 23 will be secured to the board by a hinge 24L to support it.

The sleeve board 22 is set out slightly away from the back to provide for free movement on its trunnions, and its outermost part, the hinge 24, projects over the center of the slot 9 when the sleeve board is in folded position and hence would interfere with shutting the board 11 were not provision made for this purpose, such provision being the eccentrically positioned trunnions 18, and other provisions now to be explained.

Now in closing the ironing table the ironing board will strike the hinge 24c and the board will assume an angle approximating that shown in Fig. 6. In order then to bring the board toa vertical position relief notches 25 (the relief notches also having an area less than the area of the ends of the cross members) are provided on the front side of the slot, and in a position to receive the trunnions when the top of the board is pressed inward against the hinge, the latter acting as a fulcrum and the trunnions moving outward as the top of the board moves inward.

The relief notches are also intended to provide ample play for the trunnions which is required for easily manipulating the board when drawing it out and are tapered at their upper side, as at 26, to guide the trunnions out of the notches and into the slots. during that operation.

It isnow evident that whether the sleeve board is employed or not the relief notches are highly important as they offer ample play to enable the board to seat easily when closed and to be easily withdrawn.

In use the board is withdrawn by grasping its upper part and pulling outward. The board now falls forward to the position shown in Fig. 2, and by pressing on its outer end the trunnions of the board travel upward in the slots and finally enter the lower notch of the upper group of notches, this being the corresponding notch to the lowest notch of the lower group in which the trunnions of the brace member now seat.

By this movement the chain is also tightened and holds the parts a proper distance apart so that to adjust the board as to height it is only necessary to press the board inward and raise or l wer it to the desired notch and then release it when the trunnions of the brace member will enter the corresponding notch of its group.

The sleeve board may be constructed and operated in a similar manner. Owing to the relatively small amount and nature of the work done on this board it is found that its height within a few inches makes no material diflference, and hence I prefer to mount the sleeve board pivotally in the frame, in a fixed rather than an adjustable manner to re duce the cost of manufacture.

A chain 27 however is also provided on the sleeve board so that its brace member will seat automatically in the cross piece 28 placed against the back for the purpose.

The above mentioned catches 7 and 8 will retain the boards in a vertical position when closed.

This application is refiled for abandoned application Serial No. 11,626, filed February 26, 1925.

Having thus described my invention, I claim In an ironing table the combination with a vertical cabinet having opposed slots in the side walls, of a unit consisting of an ironing board having trunnions slidably mounted in the slots of said cabinet, a brace member hingedly secured at one end to said board and at its other end slidably mounted in the said slots, and-a flexible element connecting the inner ends of said board and said brace memher, said slots being formed to provide upper and lower sets of adjusting notches adapted to receive said board and said brace member,

and each upper slot and its corresponding lower slot being positioned a distance apart equal to the length of the flexible element.

In testimony whereof I afIiX my signature.

WILLIAM H. BARBIE. 

